Now that the draft is over and organizations are ending the method of signing their picks, I wished to share notes on some latest draftees right here within the Midwest who I’ve been capable of scout in-person a number of occasions over the previous couple of years. I’m going to focus totally on gamers who aren’t but family names, however who’ve a talent set or instrument that caught my eye. This bunch of notes will cowl some not too long ago drafted excessive schoolers, whereas the subsequent batch will cowl gamers from the faculty ranks.
Tyson Lewis, SS, Millard West HS (NE)
Crew: Reds Spherical: 2 General Choose: 51
Lewis was my favourite highschool place participant within the Midwest this yr regardless of believing that he’ll slide over to second base long-term. Lewis swings it from the left facet and has a well-rounded offensive talent set that provides you motive to undertaking on each his hit instrument and recreation energy. Lewis’ swings are aggressive however beneath management, and his path retains his bat within the zone for an prolonged time frame whereas additionally having sufficient loft to raise; he exhibits solid-average uncooked energy throughout batting observe presently and it initiatives to be plus sooner or later. There are occasions when Lewis’ swing will get longer and extra vulnerable to swing-and-miss, particularly in opposition to plus velocity up within the zone. When Lewis goes effectively, he whips the bat by means of the zone with above-average bat pace and exhibits the power to govern the barrel to cowl a number of quadrants, although pitches down within the zone are those he does probably the most injury in opposition to.
He has a mean arm and his lateral agility would probably be sufficient for shortstop, however his palms are vulnerable to stiffness and don’t undertaking to be dependable sufficient to deal with quick. I’m excessive sufficient on Lewis’ bat to suppose he’ll hit sufficient to climate the slide down the defensive spectrum if/when he does transfer off quick. The Reds are clearly excessive on Lewis too — they not too long ago signed him for $3.05 million, which is effectively above the $1.80 million slot worth.
Trey Snyder, SS, Liberty North HS (MO)
Crew: Mets Spherical: 5 General Choose: 144
Snyder is a stable athlete with a projectable, medium body who went to highschool within the Kansas Metropolis space. He’s a basically sound participant with bat-to-ball chops, however he lacks an affect instrument. Snyder has a easy and repeatable operation within the batter’s field, and might manipulate the barrel within the zone, however he not often elevated with authority throughout a number of in-person appears to be like over the previous couple of years. His bat path throughout batting observe options extra loft than his recreation hacks do, and it’s a protected guess that his hit instrument will all the time far outpace his energy manufacturing.
His palms work effectively on the filth and Snyder has a mean arm that may play up attributable to his fast launch. Snyder has adequate defensive chops to have a shot to remain at shortstop long-term, which is essential as a result of his offensive profile will probably be too gentle to warrant him taking part in a non-premium place. I’ve Snyder, who not too long ago signed for $1.32 million, as having a bench utility ceiling.
Eddie Rynders, 3B, Wisconsin Lutheran HS (WI)
Crew: Pirates Spherical 4 General Choose: 112
Rynders was a shortstop in highschool and was introduced as one by the Pirates after they drafted him, however he’ll most likely come off that place in professional ball, along with his long-term defensive residence probably third base or a nook outfield spot. He has the arm power for the left facet of the infield, however his lateral vary isn’t going to permit for common vary at quick. Finally, you’re shopping for the bat with Rynders. His clean left-handed swing already options above-average uncooked energy, principally to the pull facet. There’s loft in Rynders’ bat path with out sacrificing the period of time it stays within the hitting zone. He has a mean hit/above-average energy ceiling, however he hasn’t persistently been stress examined in opposition to high-end pitching. Rynders managed the strike zone effectively all through his prep profession, and his skill to translate that talent in opposition to skilled pitching can be important to him maximizing his intriguing profile. Rynders and the Pirates agreed to a slot deal ($649,700).
Kale Fountain, 1B/LF, Norris HS (NE)
Crew: Padres Spherical: 5 General Choose: 151
Fountain is a long-levered plus athlete who already exhibits plus uncooked energy to the pull facet and has a bat path geared for elevating. Because of his rangy limbs, Fountain’s swing does have some size to it, which can probably trigger him to run higher-than-average swing-and-miss charges in professional ball. Whether or not or not he’s capable of get to his loud energy typically sufficient would be the principal factor to look at with Fountain.
Defensively, Fountain was drafted as a 3rd baseman however he’s removed from a certain guess to remain there long-term, and I believe he’ll find yourself at first base or in a nook outfield spot. He has solid-average arm power however below-average accuracy. Each his palms and his general defensive actions have some rigidness to them, however I’m assured he’ll be at the very least a mean defender at first base or in left subject contemplating the general athlete he’s.
Fountain brings each important upside and danger. He’ll want the juice in his bat to be his carrying instrument, and he’ll must watch out to keep away from letting the swing-and-miss overtake his profile and minimize into how typically he will get to his energy in video games. A plus energy/below-average hit instrument is a sensible ceiling to hope for given Fountain’s profile. The slot worth for this decide was $444,200, however the Padres are excessive sufficient on Fountain to have paid him a $1.7 million bonus to lure him away from his LSU dedication.
Eli Lovich, OF, Blue Valley West HS (KS)
Crew: Cubs Spherical: 11 General Choose: 332
Lovich’s lengthy and rangy 6-foot-4 body provides important projection, as he nonetheless has a really skinny construct at current. His operation within the left-handed batter’s field may be very rhythmic and he makes use of an abbreviated leg kick to generate leverage. It’s not a really steep path, nevertheless it does have pure loft to it together with some adjustability within the zone. Lovich is more likely to find yourself in a nook outfield spot. His above-average arm power is enough to profile in proper subject, the place he could possibly be a mean defender. The Cubs are betting that as Lovich’s wiry body develops, energy that’s able to carrying a nook outfield defensive profile will come too. Lovich not too long ago signed for $650,000 and can begin his growth within the Cubs system quickly.
Anson Seibert, RHP, Blue Valley Southwest HS (KS)
Crew: Tigers Spherical: 16 General Choose: 476
Seibert isn’t going to signal with Detroit and can as an alternative head to Knoxville to start his school profession. He got here into the 2024 season with a really excessive profile for a Kansas highschool pitching prospect attributable to each how tall he’s and the way exhausting he was throwing at a younger age. He’s positively value keeping track of at Tennessee.
I first noticed Seibert as a sophomore, when his 6-foot-8 body was very thick, gradual, and unathletic. Whereas Seibert continues to be a fringe athlete general, each his body and athleticism have trended in the best route. Seibert left a begin late in the highschool season with an arm difficulty and by no means returned, which was probably an enormous a part of him falling to the sixteenth spherical. Previous to shutting down on the finish of the season, Seibert would sit 95-97 mph along with his fastball within the first couple of innings earlier than settling in at 92-94 mph. The fastball is the inspiration of Seibert’s enchantment. Each his breaking ball and changeup undertaking to be common choices, with the changeup the likelier of the 2 to maybe become an above-average pitch. There are nonetheless questions in regards to the severity of the arm harm that minimize Seibert’s highschool season quick, in addition to his long-term prognosis.